Table Of Contents
Turning Off Your Mains
It's a sad truth that many of us wait until it's too late before taking action. Consider the placement of your home's water mains. Do you even know where it is as a homeowner?
Unless you know where the water main isolation valve is, you're likely one of the many people who only learn where it is after a plumbing problem, such as a broken pipe. Most homes will have significant water damage from flooding by the time homeowners eventually find the water mains shut off valve.
As a result, before anything like this occurs, make sure you know where to cut off your home's main water supply. On the off chance there is a plumbing emergency, the water shut off valve is your sole option for stopping the flow of water into your home. To locate your home's water main tap or shutoff valve, check out the suggestions in this article.
What Is A Shut Off Valve Or Stop Valve?
First, you need to know what the stop valve is. Water supply is managed by your exterior shutoff valve, which is sometimes known as a stopcock or shutoff faucet. You may switch on and off your water by using the stop valve. However, using the stop valve inside whenever feasible is the best option.
If you are unable to use your inside stop valve (or simply cannot locate it), you may switch off your home's water supply using your exterior stop valve. Stop valves are an effective method to switch off your water supply, but they should not be depended upon exclusively. You must become well-versed in the many techniques of shutting off your water supply.
Locating Your Water Main
You can locate your water mains even under the following conditions:
Water Main is Tucked Away
In many homes, the water isolation valve is concealed away in an obscure location. Most houses' water shutdown valves are situated in the basement or garage rather than on an outside wall in the utility area.
Weather is a Significant Factor
There is little risk of the water shutdown valve freezing in Australia; hence, it is situated directly next to the water meter. Most colder climate residents have a water system in their homes' basement or crawl space to keep the water from freezing. Water shutdown valves are often put in an underground box or on an outside wall in areas with warm weather.
Even if you haven't looked for or used your main water shut down valve since moving into your present house, it's critical that you do so immediately. An aphorism goes that "a little prevention goes a long way." That is definitely true here. If you want to know how to switch off your main water supply before it breaks, don't wait for a plumbing disaster to happen.
Turning Off Your Main Water Supply
Water meters are normally placed on the left or right side of the front of the house. If there is no metal or plastic cap on top of the water meter, it should be removed. Residents in areas where recycled water is used may find that they have two water meters.
Although there may not be an individual water meter at the entrance of the building where you reside (such as in a condo or townhouse), there is likely a water shutoff valve. You'll have to ask the complex management if you don't know where it is.
In only a few days, rain and insects may fill water meter boxes with silt and sludge. The obligation for maintaining the meter box may be disputed, but as long as your water meter box is kept clean, you will have easy access to switch off your water in the event of an emergency or leak repairs, as well as monitor your water use. Here are the steps to follow to turn off your water main:
Step One: Take the cover plate off
Remove the cover plate from your water meter by using a screwdriver to lift it out. A cover plate will be installed for free if one is missing. If this is the case, contact your city council and request it.
Step Two: Remove excess water
If the meter box is overflowing, use a cup to remove the excess water.
Step Three: Close the tap
Close the isolation tap or the ball valve if it is a T-top valve. To turn this tap OFF, spin it counter-clockwise. A wrench is required for additional leverage if the stop valve or T-top tap will not spin by hand.
Step Four: Drain the water
Turn on the front hose tap and drain the water line before returning to the house.
A plumber may now be contacted in the case of a plumbing emergency, while those who have switched off their water to make repairs should be all set.
How To Turn Off A Water Heater
You should know how to properly switch off your hot water system in case of a water leak, a gas leak, or the loss of the pilot light. Before commencing any form of maintenance, make sure the water heater is off. When the back settings and supply pipes are easily accessible, switching them off is a straightforward process.
Step One: Locate the water heater
To begin, identify where the water heater is located. These are often found in the garage/attic or utility closets.
Step Two: Cut off power to the heater
When using a gas water heater, the first step is to locate the temperature dial, which is generally located on the front of the tank near where the tank meets the wall.
Do not touch anything until you've found it. Locating your home's breaker box is the first step in using an electric water heater. Most of the time, they may be seen on the house's façade or in the garage. Locate the circuit breaker that supplies electricity to your heater and flip the switch to cut power to it.
Step Three: Find the plumbing line
Take note of the location of the water heater's plumbing line. Once you've shut off the valve, the water will stop flowing.
Step Four: Drain the heater
Now is the perfect moment to empty the heater. Drain the boiler's supply by connecting a garden hose to the blocked drain and leaving it outdoors or in a bucket.
Step Five: Turn off the gas supply
Locating the gas supply pipe and the valve is the next stage. The water heater usually is where you'll find these. To turn off the gas supply, move the lever or knob in either direction.
Step Six: Close the valve
Simply look for the water heater's relief valve, which is typically located near or at the very top of the unit. By closing the valve, you're allowing air to enter the tank.
Certain Cases Require Professional Help
If you have a solid cause, most water firms will let you access the street-side shutdown valve. Three examples of situations in which water providers may switch off the water supply include:
• The water cut off in your house has failed, and you have a drainage problem, such as an overflowing toilet.
• The line connecting the street cut off to your home's shutoff valve is leaking.
• Your property's main cutoff valve needs to be replaced.
In such instances, it is best to contact a professional plumber to help to avoid creating any further problems.
